Today, Google offers extensive support to Android users for external downloads. In this context, many users can access old applications that are not available in the store or have been removed through APKs. However, this situation can be eliminated with Android 14. According to a code change detected by 9to5Google, stricter measures will be brought to legacy applications in the Android ecosystem.APK support for legacy apps ends on Android 14
Reportedly, Android 14 will make API requirements more stringent, completely blocking legacy apps from installing on devices. Thus, the software giant aims to reduce malware threats and keep the applications in the store updated by the developers.
In addition, in the past weeks, Google has introduced additional rules that require new apps to be listed on the store to support at least Android 12 version. However, these rules only covered applications for the Google Play Store. In Android 14, a system-based limitation will be introduced rather than the app store.
For a start, Android 14 will block apps specifically targeting older versions of Android. Over time, Google will raise the Android Marshmallow threshold and increase the requirements with each new Android update. Thus, we can say that the installation of old applications via APK will be history.
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